Stoke City v Southampton

TEAM NEWS

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross returned to full training this week and could play following a back injury.

Glenn Whelan is expected to make his 300th appearance for the club.

Southampton captain Jose Fonte serves a one-match ban following his dismissal against Sunderland, while Victor Wanyama completes a five-game suspension.

Charlie Austin is out with a hamstring problem but fellow striker Shane Long is fit after a knee injury.

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

Alistair Mann: “In his first two seasons in charge of Stoke, Mark Hughes initially guided them to a first ever Premier League top-10 finish and then last year to their highest ever points total.

“The Potters target this time around is therefore clear – to better last year’s club record 54-point haul. Put simply, that equates to 12 points from their last nine games. Hughes believes that in doing so they could make this a very special 12 months in the club’s history.

“Only promoted in 2012, Southampton have since finished 14th, eighth and, last year, seventh. Like Stoke, they’ve become an established member of the game’s elite, with a potential first ever Premier League top-six finish within their sights.

“Currently eighth and ninth respectively, this fixture could well be pivotal in determining who ultimately achieves their goals.”